An Ultraviolet Raman Spectral Library of 21 Organic Compounds and 41 Minerals for Planetary Exploration on Mars
This evenly layered rock photographed by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover shows a pattern typical of a lake-floor sedimentary deposit not far from where flowing water entered a lake. — NASA Larger image
Searching for life on Mars can help us understand the origins and evolution of life, and it has always been a primary scientific goal of Mars exploration missions by different countries.
Raman spectroscopy has numerous advantages in detecting different materials, such as gathering chemical composition and crystal structure, specifically, ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy which is especially suitable for identifying organic compounds has been deployed on Mars.
In this study, an independent UV Raman spectroscopy system is built to explore the potential of ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy in planetary exploration and astrobiology. Based on this system, a ground-based Raman reference library was established, including 41 minerals and 21 organic compounds related to Martian biosignatures.
The results indicate that the self-built UV Raman system can identify significant characteristic peaks in different materials that would provide valuable and good references for identifying organics on Mars.
An ultraviolet Raman spectral library of 21 organic compounds and 41 minerals for planetary exploration on Mars, Physica Scripta
Astrobiology, Astrochemistry,
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